Last Updated on May 9, 2023 by Amber Heard
Big Ten Bowl Games 2023 Bowl Games for Big Ten Teams
Big Ten Bowl Games 2023 Bowl Games for Big Ten Teams, The Big Ten is a conference with a lot of great talent. However, its postseason success has been a struggle for the past 100+ years.
The Big Ten is sending multiple teams to the College Football Playoff this season. This will be the first time the Big Ten has had multiple teams in the playoff.
Penn State vs. Utah
With USC and UCLA moving from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten in 2024, conference bragging rights are on the line. That’s why the 109th Rose Bowl presents. One of the most anticipated matchups in the history of the game between Utah and Penn State.
This year, both teams have had success on the road. With Utah visiting Pasadena for the second time and Penn State winning four straight games. Against top-four conference opponents. This game exemplifies the significance of conference rivalries. Which will become even more crucial. When the College Football Playoff expands from eight to twelve teams in 2024.
Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma State
The Big Ten is once again well-represented in the bowl games. But with teams transferring players from the NFL. And others opting out for draft prep, the matchups are a bit more random than usual.
In the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl. Wisconsin will face Oklahoma State in a game. That has two programs going through different transition periods. The Badgers are in the middle of a coaching change. As former Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell takes over.
The Cowboys are 7-5 on the season, but they have lost several key contributors to the transfer portal. Quarterback Graham Mertz is off to Florida. And a trio of part-time starters on the offensive line are also gone.
Michigan State vs. Purdue
The Big Ten Championship is set for Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. It is the final conference game of the season and determines the winner of the Big Ten West.
The winner earns an automatic berth to the Rose Bowl. Unless it is a College Football Playoff semi-finalist or one of the four teams that make up the CFP.
Michigan has already checked off two of its goals this season – beat Ohio State and win the Big Ten title. But it now gets to check off another: ending a national championship drought.
The Wolverines will hope their quick-hitting running attack will help them do just that against a Purdue defense that is not great on the ground. They will also look to find a way to slow down a Purdue passing attack that has been one of the best in the country this year.
Ohio State vs. Texas Tech
The Buckeyes were able to lock in their spot in the College Football Playoff by winning the Big Ten title. Now, they have to face a tough road ahead in the Big Ten Bowl Games.
A lot will depend on how this game goes down and how much pressure Ohio State will be under to make a high-probability field goal. If it does, this could be the most exciting big ten-bowl game in a while.
A few more interesting matches are set to take place with the Big Ten having six teams battling opponents. They haven’t faced in at least a decade, including Iowa, Michigan State, and Northwestern. Plus, there’s the Group of Five bid in the Bahamas Bowl between Tulane and Cincinnati.
Maryland vs. NC State
The Big Ten Bowl Games are a perfect way to cap off the college football season. This year’s schedule is loaded with marquee matchups that could determine the future of each program.
Maryland and NC State face off in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Friday (noon, ESPN) at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium. The Terrapins and Wolfpack are vying for bragging rights in a rivalry. That dates back to the days of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
A win in the bowl would help to solidify Maryland’s dominance over nonconference foes. A trend that coaches Tim Locksley has emphasized. It would also give the Terps their first win over an opponent ranked by the playoff committee.
Lowa vs. Nebraska
If Iowa beats Nebraska on Friday, it’ll be a win away from the West Division title. But a trip to Indianapolis is unlikely.
The Hawkeyes are on the wrong side of a tiebreaker for the West. That will be determined by what happens in Saturday’s game between Purdue and Illinois.
That means Iowa needs to win out and hope that either Minnesota or Nebraska finishes below Iowa for the crown.
It’s a tough path for Iowa, but it’s the best way to go. The Hawkeyes are hanging their hat on defense this year and that has paid off. They’ve gotten stops and turnovers when it matters most.
